The Eclectic Abecedarium by Edward Gorey (2022)

The Eclectic Abecedarium by Edward Gorey (2022)
Patrice Miller
Flagbook. Closed: H305 x W107 mm. Open: W495 mm. Edition of 5, of which this is #1. Acquired from Aredian Press, 17 July 2022.
Photos: Books On Books Collection.

Patrice Miller’s flag book uses the text and color illustrations cut from The Edward Gorey House’s poster version of Gorey’s first alphabet book, The Eclectic Abecedarium (1983). Miller has mounted the text to red, blue, or green textured cardstock, which, in turn, is affixed to a red lotka-backed accordion. Black background yuzen paper with dots of bright blue, red, and green cover the boards. 

Figbash Acrobate by Edward Gorey (2023)

Figbash Acrobate by Edward Gorey (2023)
Patrice Miller
Jacob’s ladder. Box: H98 x W141 x D106. Ladder closed: H65 x W55 mm. Ladder: open H1025 mm. Acquired from Patrice Miller, 5 April 2023.
Photos: Books On Books Collection.

Gorey’s Figbash Acrobate in Jacob’s Ladder format. Video courtesy of Patrice Miller.

Although commissioned, the flag book and Jacob’s ladder make up part of a larger undertaking by Miller: “The Edward Gorey Binding Project”. Miller writes:

Fascinated with the works of Edward Gorey since high school, my binding efforts led me to embark on the challenge of rebinding (or binding) all 100+ titles authored by him, with the occasional distraction of books featuring his illustrations only. … A selection of the books have been displayed at the Edward Gorey House, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts.

So far the project has yielded fan, star, accordion/stub, tufted red cotton velvet with covered buttons, flat-back, ribbon band, Green Thai alligator-pattern textured paper and goat skin, black lokta overlaid with ogura lace paper, calfskin and blue and green feathers from the binder’s parrot Django, silk-screened Indian cotton rag paper, sheer paper imbedded with irregular black yarn circles overlays, and vintage gold brocade bookcloth bindings. Another four to five years should see the job done!

Aredian Press works have received Distinguished Book Awards from the Miniature Book Society.

Further Reading

“Abecedaries I (in progress)“. Books On Books Collection.

“Edward Gorey“. 26 July 2022. Books On Books Collection.

Chen, Julie. 2013. 500 Handmade Books. Volume 2. New York: Lark. (See Susan Lowdermilk’s Power Play (2002) for comparison.